MSPB EXPLAINS WITHIN-GRADE INCREASES        

It does not happen often; in fact, it is quite rare.  But agencies do deny within-grade or step increase and when they do it almost always falls to the union to grieve and possibly arbitrate the denial.  We have posted two FEDSMILL.com pieces aimed at helping union reps work their way through one of these cases, i.e., “Union Rep Test #11 (WIGI/ALOC)” and “When Not to Grieve WIGI Denials.” Given that neither was intended to provide a complete guide to the process, we thought you might find it helpful to know about MSPB’s own guide entitled, “Determining an Acceptable Level of Competence for Step Increases, April  2021.”